Over the course of tense Oct. 1 deliberations, the board of commissioners named three of its own members and four additional community leaders to oversee a powerful new government entity that will manage the county’s libraries, parks and recreation facilities.

Grappling with their toughest budget in a decade, the Buncombe County commissioners have been debating austerity measures that would put the squeeze on many local nonprofits for the foreseeable future. And amid a still-sputtering economy, most of those groups are already struggling after years of rising demand and dwindling funding sources.